Bakery machinery



Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES BAKERY MACHINERY Bertrand Rubel andClarence Leab, Cincinnati, Ohio; said Leah assignor to said RubelApplication September 9, 1936, Serial No. 99,992

12 Claims.

This invention relates to bakery machinery, and especially to a meansfor handling bread or other bakery products subsequent to slicingthereof, and prior to a wrapping or packaging opera- 5, tion performedupon the sliced product.

An object of the invention is to provide means for so handling a slicedloaf product or the like, as to preclude disarrangement of the slicesand the troublesome yeffects of slice displacement or disarrangementheretofore occurring at the wrapping or packaging machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement ofmeans whereby the handling of sliced loaf products is greatly simpliiiedand expedited, thereby minimizing expense, hand labor, and waste of timein the output `of bakery goods.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means describedherein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of the machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the operating parts in loaftransferring position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing details of a transfer means whichembodies the invention.

The introduction of bakery products such as 30, breads or the like insliced loaf form, has imposed upon the baking yestablishment certainyproblems concerned with keeping the loaves assembled from the time theyare sliced until subjection thereof -to the wrapping or packagingoperation. Heretofore, considerable observation and hand labor wererequired to maintain the continuity of production, due to failure `ofthe loaf slices to remain assembled and aligned when conveyed orsubected to the routine of the baking 40 establishment. The separatingof a loaf into its component individual slices during transfer from onemachine or conveyor to another often .resuited in confusion and aninterruption to the production program of the establishment. One e5 ofthe primary objects of the present invention is to eliminate thediiculties referred to, so as to effect a saving of time, labor andexpense in the production of sliced loaf products. Throughout thisdescription, it is intended that the terms fsliced loaf or preslicedbakery product, shall include breads of all kinds, and products of anynature made up in loaf formation and sliced for the convenience of theconsumer, to whom the product is supplied in wrapped `or packaged form.Referring now to the accompanying drawing,

(Cl. 'IBS-"20) which more or less conventionally shows the device .oflthe invention related to other elements of a baking establishment, thecharacter 6 indicates any known type of .slicing mechanism to which aloaf .may be 4subjected after having been baked. .5 At 'I is indicatedany known type of wrapping mechanism :adapted to operate 4upon thepresliced loaf and apply :thereto a suitable envelope or wrapper in 'awell known manner.

The wrapping mechanism is adapted to be 'feci l0 automatically with.assembled sliced loaves, by means of a suitable conveyor, one form ofwhich is disclosed xat .the right Aof Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This conveyor.may .be in theform of a trough constituted .of an :inclined bottom -8and a cooperative l5 inclined side wall 9 disposed angularly and at .aproper inclination -to support the bottom and one side of any assembledsliced loaf; By preference, the inclination of the bottom wall is suchthat gravity may act upon the constituents of .the sliced loaf, as the'loaf is moved along the trough by means to be described, with theresult that the individual slices tend to gravitate ltoward. the angleincluded between walls 8 and .9, thereby to maintain the individuallslices in aligned relationship. Any suitabe type conveyor means may beemployed for feeding the .assembled loaves to the wrapping mechanism,there being shown .by way of example, a plurality of pairs of receivingarms Ill-I0 xed in spaced relationship upon a 3 0 conveyor `belt lorendless vchain I2 supported upon a pair of sprockets, .one of which isshown at I3. The conveyor belt or chain `is adapted to be power actuatedso as to move the receiving arms toward the wrapping mechanism .in thedirection of the arrow I4. The vcharacter Irli indicates a shaftsupporti-ng the sprocket I3. The receiving arms III-I0 are to be fixed.to the conveyor belt or .chain with any desired or predetermineddistance between them, depending on the length of a loaf to 40 behandled. The forward ends of the vreceiving arms `may be tapered orturned outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 1.

For feeding the assembled loaves from the slicing mechanism to thetransverse `conveyor of the wrapping mechanism, `there is provided aframe I6 mounted upon suitable supports `II and including a bed plate or,table IB over which a series of pusher elements I9 is adapted to movefor advancing .the assembled `sliced loaves dis- 5o charged from theslicing mechanism. The pusher elements may be of any suitable formation,those shown being in the form of angle iron bars 'each ,of which hasvopposite ends 20 and 2| fixed, respectively, to Aan endless movableconveyor that preferably comprises a pair of endless chains or belts 22and 23. The upper run of each chain may rest upon or move in the planeof the bed plate or table I8, so that the pusher elements may properlyengage and advance the assembled loaves along the table and toward theconveyor of the wrapping mechanism. The endless chains 22 and 23, ofcourse, move in unison and at the same speed, so that the pusherelements are always at substantial right angles thereto. The directionof movement of the pusher elements is indicated by the arrow 24. Each ofthe chains is conventionally supported upon a pair of sprockets, one ofwhich is indicated at 25 in Fig. 2. Above the bed plate or table, thereis provided a pair of spaced parallel guides 26 and 2l, which may be inthe form of longitudinal plates or strips placed on edge, said guidesserving toY embrace an assembled sliced loaf 28 as indicated in Fig. 1.Suitable mounting means for the guides 26 and 2l are indicated by thecharacters 29, these mountings being supported by the frame parts I6 orby any other stationary support. The particular structure of the guidemounting means 29 is immaterial to the invention, suhice it to say thatthey may be adjustable transversely tothe frame parts I6-I 6 forincreasing or decreasing the space between the guides 26 and 2'1 in theevent that the apparatus is to accommodate loaves of different lengths.From the foregoing, it should be understood that each lpusher element I9is adapted to advance apre-sliced assembled load along the bed plate ortable Ifor nal disposition thereo-f between the receiving arms of theconveyor I2, while the spaced parallel guides 26 and 21 function tomaintain the loaves assembled by applying slight pressure to theopposite ends of the loaves. The pusher elements, being straight and atsubstantial right angles to the guides, maintain the slices in alignmentupon the bed plate or table I8 throughout the travel of the loaves underthe inuence of the pusher elements.

Upon reaching the discharge end of the conveyor which includes thepusher elements, it is necessary to transfer the loaves bodily to thereceiving.l arms Ill-Ill. This is accomplished without disarrangement ofthe slices, by means of a reciprocating transfer mechanism which willnow be described.

At or near the ends 30-30 of the guides 26 and 21, there is provided apair of spaced parallel pressure plates 3l and 32 which are adapted tobe bodily shifted from the normally retracted position of Figs. 1 and 2to an operative extended position shown in Fig. 3. These pressure platesnormally function as continuations of the guides 26 and 2l, so that thesuccession of pusher elements will place assembled sliced loaves betweensaid plates just prior to movement of the pusher elements over thesprockets 25. In thus advancing the loaves and positioning them betweenthe pressure plates, the pusher elements or equivalent means on thechains, contact and advance the pressure plates to the Fig. 3 positionat which they overhang the transverse conveyor 8--9 in position todeposit a loaf thereon and between the receiving arms I-IIJ. Althoughthe advancement of the pressure plates may be effected in'various ways,the accompanying drawing eX- emplies one form of means which may berelied upon to accomplish the result desired. For example, each pressureplate may be provided with a fixed projection or abutment 33 whichnormally rests in the path of movement of the pusher elements I9 (see2), so that the pusher elements may successively contact and move theprojections or abutments in the manner disclosed in Fig. 3, as saidpusher elements move downwardly along the sprocket to the lower run ofthe conveyor chain or belt. The character 34 indicates the approximateposition of a loaf as advanced to the receiving arms IIJ- I in theextended `or advanced position of the pair of pressure plates 3 I-32.

Of considerable importance is the fact that the pair of pressure platesis very suddenly returned from the advanced position of Fig. 3, to theretracted position of Fig. 2, as the pusher element I9 of Fig. 3releases its hold, 'or its engagement upon the projection or abutment33. In accordance with the present invention, the pressure plates arereturned to the normal or retracted position of Fig. 2, by means ofsubstantial springs, which impart to the pressure plates a suddenretractile movement such as Will avoid any frictional hold of the platesupon the loaf ends and thereby cause the loaf to be immediately receivedin the embrace of the arms Ill-I6 of the transverse conveyor. Thesprings for effecting the quick action return movement of the pressureplates, are indicated at 36 and 3l of Fig. 1. For a detailed disclosure,reference may be had to Fig. 4, which shows the spring 36 having one end3l connected in xed relationship to a part of the machine frame, whichmay be one Vof the supports 29, whereas the opposite end 38 of thespring is fixed to a stud or pin 39 carried by the pressure plate 3I.Although the particular meansY of mounting the pressure plates may takevarious forms, there is shown a mounting arm 46 fixed to the frame or toa guide 26 or 21 in any suitable mannen-such as by means of screws orbolts 4I, said arms extending slightly downwardly and toward thetransverse conveyor to provide a track or guide for the pressure plates.A suitable guide means for the plate upon the mounting arm 40 may befurnished by providing an elongated guide slot 42 in the arm, in whichslot the headed stud or pin 39 is received. Each pressure plate may beprovided also with a pair of spaced lugs 43 and 44 bridged by a suitablepin or connectorY 45 which bears upon or embraces the forward end Yofthe mounting arm in the region of the slot 42, to preclude rotation ofthe pressure plate about the guide pin or stud 39. It should beappreciated that the particular means resorted to for guiding thepressure plates along the mounting arms 46 may be altered considerablyas to engineering design, the means illustrated being merely exemplaryof a construction that will perform the function intended. For example,the parts 43, 44 and 45 might readily be replaced by a second headedstud or pin such as 39 mounted upon the plate in spaced relationship tothe pin or stud shown.

By means of the combination of elements herein set forth, assembledsliced loaves may be handled effectively and without interruption to thecontinuity of bakery routine, due to the fact that the loaves can at notime separate or distribute their constituent parts over the machinerythat handles the loaves. The quick action retractile movement of thepressure plates which constitute the reciprocable transfer means,results in a positive sudden release of the loaves to the arms of thetransverse conveyor, without displacement of any of the slicesconstituting the loaves, and the particular form of the transverseconveyor which feeds the wrapping mechanism maintains a perfectdisposition or alignment of adjacent slices of the loaf until thewrapping is applied thereto by the wrapping mechanism. It is to beunderstood that the pressure plates 3| and 32 of the reciprocatingtransfer means preferably are identical in construction, and that theyoperate simultaneously in moving at pusher element speed while advancingloaves to the transverse conveyor, and while returning suddenly or witha snap action at high speed to the normal position of Figs. l and 2.

As stated previously, various modifications and changes may be made in.the structural details of the device, without departing from thespiritof the invention. I

In order to readily set forth the invention disclosed herein, and toobviate unnecessary details in view of the prior art, it is to beunderstood that heretofore, in devices intended to effectv transfer of aplurality of slices of bread from a cutting machine to a conveyor usedfor feeding the assembled slices to the wrapping mechanism, there havebeen used everything shown herein, including means for adjusting theguides Zt, 21 and arms l0, l0 to accommodate loaves of differentlengths. In prior devices, the guides 26, 21 are extended so theyterminate immediately adjacent the path of the arms lil. It is verycommon for such prior devices to fail to function properly and thepresent invention is intended to obviate the failure of such equipmentincident to transfer of the slices from the conveyor of the slicingmachine to the conveyor of the wrapping machine.

While the invention is disclosed and described herein in connection withbread slicing and sliced bread wrapping equipment, it is obvious thatthe same transfer problem may exist in other arts wherein there is alsoinvolved the transfer of assembled units, each comparable to a slice ofbread, from one conveyor to another conveyor or from one pair of pocketforming means for such assembled units to another pocket forming meansin which the units are to be retained in substantially unchangedrelationship. 'Ille appended claims are therefore to be understood asbeing commensurate with the invention and not limited to the specificart employed for the purpose of illustration of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. An apparatus for handling a group of disconnected atly contactingslab-like objects as a unitary assembly, said apparatus comprising meansfor supporting said objects on edge and for moving said objects in adirection parallel to their plane faces, opposed normally stationaryguide walls extending in the direction of advancement of the objects andlocated to contact the endmost objects of the assembly so as to keepthem in an upright position with intermediate ones of the objects incontacting relationship, transfer means comprising a reciprocable plateat an end of each guide wall, each plate forming a continuation of aguide wall so that an assembly advanced along the guide walls will enterbetween the spaced plates to be thereby frictionally embraced, means forsimultaneously projecting the plates with the assembly held thereby, atsubstantially the rate of advancement of the object imposed by thesupporting means, and means operating to suddenly retract the plates forreleasing therefrom the assembly held thereby.

2. An apparatus for handling, a group of disconnected flatly contactingslab-like objects as a unitary assembly, said apparatus comprising meansfor supporting said objects on edge and for moving said objects in adirection parallel to their plane faces, opposed guide walls extendingin the direction of advancement of the objects and located to contactthe endmost objects of the assembly so as to keep them in an uprightposition with intermediate ones of the objects in contactingrelationship, transfer means comprising a plate at an end of each guidewall, each plate forming a continuation of a guide wall so that anassembly advanced along the guide walls will enter between the spacedplates to be thereby frictionally embraced, means for simultaneouslyprojecting the plates with the assembly held thereby, at substantiallythe rate of advancement of the object imposed by the supporting means,means operating to suddenly retract the'plates for releasing therefromthe assembly held thereby, and a receiver for the released assemblycomprising a transversely disposed trough having meeting walls inclinedto support two adjacent edges of each slab-like object and to therebymaintain the alignment of said objects after being released from thetransfer means.

3. An apparatus for handling a group of disconnected flatly contactingslab-like objects as a unitary assembly, said apparatus comprising meansfor supporting said objects on edge and for moving said objects in adirection parallel to their plane faces, opposed guide walls extendingin the direction of advancement of the objects and located to contactthe endmost objects of the assembly so as to keep them in an uprightposition with intermediate ones of the objects in contactingrelationship, transfer means comprising a plate at an end of each guidewall, each plate forming a continuation of a guide wall so that anassembly advanced along the guide walls willv enter between the spacedplates to be thereby frictionally embraced, means for simultaneouslyprojecting the plates with the assembly held thereby, at substantiallythe rate of advancement of the object imposed by the supporting means,means operating to suddenly retract the plates for releasing therefromthe assembly held thereby, a receiver for the released assemblycomprising a transversely disposed trough having meeting walls inclinedto support two adjacent edges of each slab-like object and to therebymaintain the alignment of said objects after being released from thetransfer means, and a conveyor associated with the trough and includingpairs of arms spaced and synchronized in movement to receivetherebetween successive assemblies released by the transfer means.

4. In a device for transferring an aligned assembly of unitary objectsthe combination of a plate-like member over which a group of unitaryobjects may be moved in an aligned relationship, means disposed at each,end of the path traversed by such aligned group of objects for providinga channel through which the objects are moved, a drive means for movingsaid group of objects in aligned relationship through 4said channel,pocket forming means movable to forming means and said pocket formingmeans for bridging the space between the channel forming means and thepocket forming means when the pocket forming means is aligned with saidchannel forming means, means including the drive means aforesaid forcontacting and advancing the said bridging means to a limit of travel insubstantial unison with the movement of an aligned assembly of objectsfrom said channel into said pocket, means for terminating saidcontacting and advancing relationship at the end of the limit of travel,and means for then retracting said bridging means from the path ofmovement of said pocket means.

5. In a device for transferring an aligned assembly of unitary objectsthe combination of a plate-like member over which a group of unitaryobjects may be moved in an aligned relationship, means disposed at eachend of the path traversed by such aligned group of objects for providinga channel through, which the objects are moved, a drive means for movingsaid group of objects in aligned relationship through said channel,pocket forming means movable to and from a position spaced from and insubstantial alignment with said channel forming means and into thepocket of which the alignedgroupof objects may be received, bridgingmeans in substantial alignment with said channel forming means foroperation between said channel forming means and said pocket formingmeans for bridging the space between the channel forming means and thepocket forming means when the pocket forming means is aligned with saidchannel forming means, means including the drive means for Vadvancingthe said bridging means in substantial unison with the movement of analigned assembly of objects from said channel into said pocket, aVrelease operative to terminate the advancement of the bridging means,and means yieldingly resisting advancing movement of said bridging meansand returning said bridging means to retracted position upon release ofsaid bridging means from said means for advancing the bridging means.

6. An apparatus for handling as a unit, a group or assembly ofdisconnected flat slab-like objects, having adjacent flat faces of saidobjects in contact upon one another, said apparatus comprising means forsupporting said objects in upright position and on edge'and for movingsaid objects in a direction parallel to their contacting fiat faces,opposed and spaced guide walls extending in the direction of movement ofthe objects and located to contact the endmost objects of the assemblyso as to keep them in upright position with intermediate ones of theobjects in contacting relationship, transfer means comprising a plate atan end of each guide wall, each plate forming a continuation of a guidewall so that an assembly advanced along the guide walls will enterbetween the spaced plates and be supported between said plates, meansfor projecting the plates with the assembly supported thereby, atsubstantially the rate of movement of the objects imposed by the articlemoving means, means operating to suddenly retract the plates forreleasing the assembly supported thereby, a receiver for the releasedassembly and comprising spaced receiver arms between pairs of which armsthe plates are adapted to guide the assembly prior to retraction of theplates, and means cooperating with the receiver arms for maintaining therelationship of the objects after release thereof from the plates.

7. An apparatus for handling as a unit, a group or assembly ofdisconnected at slab-like objects, having adjacent flat faces of saidobjects in contact upon one another, said apparatus comprising means forsupportingrsaid objects in upright position and on edge and for movingsaid objects in a direction parallel to their contacting Vhat faces,opposed and spaced guide walls eX- tending in the direction of movementof the objects and located to contact the endmost objects for releasingthe assembly supported thereby, a

receiver for the released assembly and comprising spaced receiver armsbetween pairs of which arms the plates are adapted to guide the assemblyprior to retraction of the plates, means cooperating with the receiverarms for maintaining the relationship of the objects after releasethereof from the plates, and means for successively advancing pairs ofreceiver arms into position for receiving an assembly of objects fromthe plates and for advancing the assemblies of objects withoutdisturbing the relationship of the individual objects in Vany assemblythereof.

8. The combination with a pair of angularly disposed conveyors of meansfor conveying an assembly of objects in assembled form, and including atransfer means comprising spaced movable pressure plates arranged toembrace 'the ends of the assembly of objects and to hold theconstituents thereof in assembled condition while transferring the samefrom one conveyor to the other, said transfer means being equipped witha snap action return mechanism whereby to rclease the assembled objectsas a unit from the transfer means.

9. The combination with a pair of angularly disposed conveyors of meansfor supporting an assembly of objects on edge and for moving saidobjects in a direction parallel to their plane faces, opposed guidewalls extending in the direction of advancement of the objects andlocated to contact the endmost objects of the assembly so as to keepthem in an upright position with intermediate ones of the objects incontacting relationship, movable transfer means adapted to transfer saidassembly from one of said conveyors to the other and comprising a plateat an end of each guide wall, each plate forming a continuation of aguide wall so that an assembly advanced along or between the guide wallswill enter between the spaced plates to be Ythereby frictionally held,means for simultanecomprising a frame and driven means supported by theframe for advancing said objects edgewise as an assembled unit, a pairof pressure plates spaced apart and arranged to receive and embrace theendmost ones of the flat objects with the intermediate objects of theassembly interposed therebetween, means mounting said pressure platesfor unitary reciprocating movement relative to the frame, cooperativeelements on the driven means and the pair of pressure plates adapted toengage as the element of the driven means advances toward the element ofthe pair of pressure plates, for moving the pair of pressure plates inone direction of reciprocation, means for effecting disengagement ofsaid cooperative elements upon movement of the pair of pressure platesto a limit of travel, and means operating to suddenly return thepressure plates to the receiving position upon disengagement of thecooperative elements aforesaid, for releasing and depositing theassembly of objects.

11. A transfer mechanism for advancing and depositing an assembly offlat objects in face to face contacting relationship, said mechanismcomprising a frame and driven means supportf ed by the frame foradvancing said objects edgewise as an assembled unit, a pair of pressureplates spaced apart and arranged to receive and embrace the endmost onesof the flat objects with the intermediate objects of the assemblyinterposed therebetween, means mounting said pressure plates for unitaryreciprocating movement relative to the frame, cooperative elements onthe driven means and the pair of pressure plates adapted to engage asthe element of the driven means advances toward the element of the pairof pressure plates, for moving the pair of pressure plates in onedirection of reciprocation, means .for effecting disengagement of saidcooperative elements upon movement of the pair of pressure plates to alimit of travel, a conveyor movable transversely of the direction ofreciprocation of the pressure plates, means on said conveyor located toreceive the assembly of objects released by the pressure plates, andmeans for driving said conveyor to carry away the assembly of objects.

12. A transfer mechanism for advancing and depositing an assembly of atobjects in face to face contacting relationship, said mechanismcomprising a frame and driven means supported by the frame for advancingsaid objects edge- Wise as an assembled unit, a pair of pressure platesspaced apart and arranged to receive and embrace the endmost ones of theilat objects with the intermediate objects of the assembly interposedtherebetween, means mounting said pressure plates for unitaryreciprocating movement relative to the frame, cooperative elements onthe driven means and the pair of pressure plates adapted to engage asthe element of the driven means advances toward the element of the pairof pressure plates, for moving the pair of pressure plates in onedirection of reciprocation, means for effecting disengagement of saidc0- cperative elements upon movementof the pair of pressure plates to alimit of travel, a receiving trough extending transversely of thedirection of reciprocation of the pressure plates and adjacent to theplates, said trough including walls whose planes meet at an angle and atan inclination such that the objects placed thereon tend to gravitatetoward said angle, and means for moving the deposited assemblies ofobjects along the trough.

BERTRAND RUBEL. CLARENCE LEAB.

